Opening means of or for sheet-metal boxes



- Oct. 28, 1924.

OPENING MEANS OF OR FOR SHEET METAL BOXES Filed April 24 1923 4Sheets-Sheet 1 0- iii I I II I I: 64 I YZT'AdaJuS Oct. 28, 1924.1,513,525

' F. E; ADAMS OPENING MEANS OF OR FOR SHEET METAL BOXES Filed April 24.:1923 4 Sheets-Sheet fave/2Z0) jZAda/ns Oct. 28, 1924. 1,513,525

F. E. ADAMS OPENING MEANS OF OR FOR SHEET METAL BOXES Filled April 24,1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F. E. ADAMS OPENING MEANS OF OR FOR SHEET METALBOXES Filed April 24, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 H615. V r

Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

PATENT F l QE.

FRANK EDWARD ADAMS, OF LOXVER BEBINGTON, ENGLAND.

OPENING MEANS 01* OR FOR SHEET-METAL BOXES.

Application filed April 24, 1923. Serial No. 634,387.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK Enwnno AnAMs, a subject of the King ofEngland, and residing at Lower Bebington, in the county of Chester,England, have invented Improvements Connected with Opening Means of orfor Sheet-Metal Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to soldered or sealed sheet or thin metalboxes and tins, and means for opening them of the kind, moreparticularly, wherein a portion of the body, or a strip forming a partof same, is provided with a series of indentations, scorings, or thelike. The object of such indentations, scorings, or the like is toweaken the metal in the direction of tearing, and in the tearing orsevering action to cause the edges of the strip or band to more or lessfollow predetermined paths.

Closed or hermetically sealed sheet metal boxes which contain liquidscannot as a rule be conveniently opened below the end, that is round thebody, and this invention pro-- vides means for enabling such boxes to beopened at the end, this being effected by incising or indenting the boxend or stamping prior to being made up, with an endless row or ring ofindentations or incisions, imparted to it by a multiplicity of rapidlyimparted blows from reciprocating tools; the marking being in one or twoannularly arranged rows or rings, with a ring of V-shaped markingextending between them.

When the top is so indented or scored on top, a suitable tongue issecured to the indented part, by pulling upon which by any knownsuitable kind of key or instrument, an annular strip is removed, andthereby a circular portion of the top or end can be removed.

In the operation of effecting this indenting or scoring, the box end,usually called the stamping, is clamped between discs carried on shaftswith coincident axes; the lower shaft of which supporting the stampingbeing adapted to be rotated step by step; and the part of the stampingwhich is acted upon by the tools lies outside the supporting disc andrissupported on an anvil, and the stamping revolves step vby step under thetools over the anvil. This step by step carrier is moved continuously bypawls or the like, which are operated suitably from a crank shaft orother motion; and the carrier is moved one tooth distance by the ratchetgear to say one turn of the driving shaft of the machine. The ratchetand pawl work continuously, whether stampings be present or not. Themachine is provided with treadle, which when operated presses thestamping between the lower table" or support and the upper clamping discwhich is pressed downwards by a spring forming part of the rammechanism.

With regard to the mechanism for operating the tools and controllingtheir action generally, the several tools are carried in a carrier orram which slides up and down in a suitable frame; and the tools and thecarrier or ram are adapted to be operated by a continuouslyreciprocating part of the ma chine, which acts on a device which isalternately inserted between the reciprocating part and the tool carrieror ram, and removed therefrom, so the ramis actuated or missed bythe'reciprocating part as and when required, and at the required time,the in denting action of the tools is stopped.

In this connection a means for effecting the declamping or freeing ofthe stamping when the scoring or indenting is to cease is provided, anda locking means connected with the treadle and the machine is actuatedso as to unlock the treadle as required, so that it can be moveddirectly or by a spring; and this may be advantageously effected'by aratchet wheel actuated by a pawl having a suitable number of teeth onit, the pawl being connected with the driving crank shaft of themachine.

To stop the rotation of the ratchet wheel,

one of its teeth may be longer than the stroke of the pawl, so that whenthe actuating pawl of the ratchet wheel reaches this longer tooth, nomovement is imparted to the wheel,

and the stamping or end stops revolving,

and this pawl can be moved from the crank shaft by suitable connectionsoperating on a lever carrying it, which also may operate the ratchet forrotating step by step the stamping carrier. i I,

But any other suitable stop mechanism may be employed.

With regard to the starting and control of the machine, when the treadleis in one position, the ram is up a considerably height to enable thestamping to be placed between the scoring tools and the anvil; and whenthe t'readle is moved to the opposite position. the upper clamping discis moved down by the ram, which is held on normally by a spring; and thelever which acts on these parts and is acted upon by the treadle,becomes held and engaged by a detent in this position, so that themechanism is locked; and when the operation is con'iplete, that is, acomplete circle 01 indentations have been made the treadle mechanism isfreed by the action of the mechanism, whereupon the treadle returns toits stop position. A second pawl is then brought into action which Workson the ratchet wheel, so that when the treadle is again worked, it movesthe pawl forward, and so moves the ratchet wheel so as to take the longtooth past its operating pawl, and the action recommences.

The lever which the treadle operates upon has a short arm, whichoperates on ram, the long arm being operated upon by the treadle, whichmay be raised by a spring. Whilstthe invention has been described asapplied to circulartins, it may by suitable arrangenient or modificationbe adapted to operate on tops or ends of tins or containers other thancircular shape.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a lid or end of a sheet metal boxprovided with the ring or endless scorings or indentations according tothis invention. Figure. 2 is a side elevation of a machine for effectingthe scoring or indenting of the lid or end in continuous or endlessform; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same; Figures 1- and 5 are end viewsopposite that shown in Figure 3, and side elevation, respectively, 01the machine; and Figure 6 is a plan in section of the machine.

Ret'erring to the drawings, and to the end or cover 1, shown in Figure1, this may be assumed to be the common form of stamping used forclosing the top of the vessel, which is usually seamed to the body afterthe tin is filled, the portion within the flange 2 being recessed in theusual way. vv ithin this flange the endless ring or band ot' scorings orindentations 3, are effected by the machine as hereafter explained; theindentations consisting in the case shown of three rings intermittentlyapplied by three tools. Namely, the outside ring will consist ofcircularly "following indentations, running into each other, or nearlyso. The next two rings are oppositely inclined indentations, the innerones being such that they run into one another in a tangential manner sothat at their inner edges they term a continuous scoring ring round thetin top.

F or starting the opening action, a suitable instrument for tearing outthe band of metal between the inner and outer circular or annularindentings or scoiings 3, a tab l o't metalot about the width of thescoring band 3 is fastened to it by passing the tab through a slit inthe band, the inner part 5 which is soldered to the under side of thecan top, the whole being sealed up by the solder.

By engaging this tongue 4- by a suitable instrument of known kind, andturning it round, the band or strip will tear away clean between theinner and outer scorings, the tearing being effected in the direction ofthe arrow; and in the act if either of the lines of tearing comes awayinwards from the inner or outer rings of indent-ings or scorings, whensuch wrong line of tearing comes on to one of the divergingindentations, the tear is led back along such indentation to the inneror outer ring, as the case may be, and so the band is completely tornall round without fault, and the central inner disc ot metal of the topis separated and removed.

The stamping 1 to be indented or scored is placed on a table '7 mountedon a spindle 8, and rotated step by step in a rapid manner ashereinafter explained; and when the stamping has been so placed on thetable, a holding disc 9, carried in a spindle 10, is caused to move downon to the central part of the stamping, and presses it down on to therotating table 7, namely, a rubber surface pad thereof, and thispressure causes the stam )ing 1 to we turned round step by step rapicly.

T he stampings are preferably introduced into position under the tools,and removed therefrom, by means of a. vibrating locator device ll hingedby a spindle 12- to the base or frame 13 of the machine, and having twosocket apertures l l in it, which receive the stampings alternately.

l i lien one stamping in one aperture 14: is being operated upon in themachine, the other will be away from the operating parts as shown inFigure 6, and into this latter aperture a stamping is placed; and whenthe operation o1 the other stamping is finished, i. e. the rings or band3 formed in it, the locator is moved over so as to move it away from theoperative position and tools. and to move the :treshstamping intoposition; the limit of movement of the locator being controlled by stops15, against which a projection 16 on the locator comes.

In the case shown, there are as stated, three separate tools 18, whichasshown are flat blades fitting one against the other; the inner oneindents or scores the inner ring of diverging indentations or scorings,the middle one the next ring of diverging indentations or scorings; andthe back or outer one, the outer ring of circularly following orcontinuous indentations.

The tools 18 are carried in a tool box or carrier 19, which is attachedto a ram 20, sliding in the vertical bed or guide 21 on the frame of themachine, being held in place by the angle bars 22 fixed on 21.

Tie tool box 19 is secured to the ram 2*.) by holding stud bolts whichpass through tools therein.

The tools 18 are adjustable both vertically and laterally, the verticaladjustment on the different tools being effected by the three screwstuds 26,screwing through the top 3 bar or member of the tool holder 19,each screw bearing on a separate tool, so that they can be separatelyadjusted; and as regards the holding and adjusting laterally, this iseffected at the top by upper screw studs 27 screwing through the sidesof the box 19; while below the front or inner tool 18 is adjusted at itslower end by the screw studs 28, the intermediate and back tools beingsupported laterally by projections 29 on the lower inner face of theside members of the tool box 19.

The upper ends of the tools 18 are provided with heads as shown, andform sur faces on which the ends of the adjusted screws 26 can act thetools bein inclined in relation to one another as shown.

This manner of adjusting and holding the tools enables them to be soplaced that an equal depth of cutting for each action from one end ofthe indentation to the other, is effected, and without requiring greatprecision of sharpening and making the tools themselves, that is an evenand uniform cutting or indentation is effected in a simple and readymanner.

The indenting or scoringvof the metal stamping or top for producing thetearing and severing band is efiected by rapidly vibrating thereciprocating indenting or scoring tools 18, which act over and inconnection with an anvil or support 6 on which the metal disc 1 to beindented or scored, is placed, and rotated step by step rapidly,

The rapidly vibrating tools have a Very short stroke, say from 1/16th to1/8th of an inch with a rapidity of, say 600 to 1000 strokes per minute;whilst the stamping or box end will be rotated under the tools step bystep at the same rate, by which method of operation the cost ofproduction is low and commercially possible.

The reduction of the sheet metal at the indentings or scorings may beabout 6/1000ths of an inch.

With regard to the operation of the up per presser disc 9, this isnormally pressed down by a spring 30 extending between a boss 31 on thetop of the tool box 19, and a collar 32 on the rod, which when downrests in a coned seat 33 on a bridge 35 on box 19, which tends to centrethe disc 9 on the table 7; whilst when'l'the coneis lifted up, whichtakes place after the completion of the indentation or scoring, it isclear of the seat 33, so that when it comes down again, the disc 9 canadjust itself on the surface stamping of therubber 34011 the table 7. Vj 1 When a stamping is being inserted for being operated upon, or whenbeing removed after the complete ring vof indentations or scorings havebeen impressed, the ram 20 and tools are inoperative; and they arepressed up into their uppermost inoperative position, by a rod 37connected with the ram 20, which is normally pressed upwards by springs38, against which the ram and parts carried with it, are pressed by thepositive downward. movement of the ram. The actuation of the .ram,.andthe stopping of same, is automatically effected by means hereinafterdescribed. V

The primary operating parts of the ram and tools work continuously, andthe 0-peration of the tool carriers and ram is effected by a devicewhichiis alternately inserted between a driving reciprocating part, andthe tool carrier or ram, and removed therefrom, so that the ram isactuated, or not actuated, by the reciprocating part as and whenrequired, and at the required time, the indenting or scoring action ofthe tools is stopped. I

The continuously operating mechanism for operating the ram and toolcarrier consists of a driven shaft 39, mounted in a bearing on the sideof the frame 13 of the machine,'having on' its front end a, crank oreccentric 40, which, through a link 41, operates a lever 42 mounted on apin in the frame 13, which operates a reciprocating rod or part 43, thelower end of which passes through and is guided by a fixed guide 44. Theshort arm of this lever 42 imparts to the reciprocating rod 43 a smallstroke, say about 4 th of an inch.

The inserting device which operates in connection with the rod or part43, and the crosshead 25 on the ram 20, consists of a slide 45, whichslides between the guide 44 and the crosshead, and is operated uponpositively by a'roller on a lever 46 when it is to be inserted betweenthe part 43, and the crosshead 25; whilst when the roller moves awayfrom the insertion device 45, a spring 47 pulls it away from under thelower end of the rod or part 43, so that in the downward movement ofthis rod or part, it does not act on the ram 20 and too-l carrier.

It may be assumed that the stroke of the reciprocating part 43, is abouttwice that required by the tools, and that in the upward stroke it movessay th above the insertion head of the device 45, so that the firstportion of the down stroke of the rod 43 is inoperative as regards itsaction of the ram 20, and only when it comes on to the device 45 is theram operated, and this is the latter half of the stroke of the rod 43.

With regard to the mechanism for automatically moving the insertiondevice 45, and the operation of the tool box and ram, this comprises atoothed ratchet wheel mounted on ashaft 51 on the frame 13, which isoperated by a pawl 52 which is carried On and reciprocated by a toothedwheel 53, and which itself is driven by a pinion 54 on the shaft 39, sothat it is driven by a relatively slow rate. The wheel 50 has a tooth 55in it, which is longer than the others, so that when the pawl 52 comeson it, it does not slide over its tip, and thus does not actuate thewheel, and in this condition the wheel 50 is stationary, and it remainsso until it is moved by another mechanism as hereafter explained, whenthe wheel 50 will then be given another revolution.

When the pawl 52 comes on the long tooth 55 of the wheel 50, a cam 56fixed on the spindle 51 strikes the lever 57, which is normally pulleddown by a spring 58, on the spindle 59 of which the insertion deviceactuating arm or lever 46 is fixed, so that this lever is moved awayfrom the insertion device 45, which is then withdrawn between thereciprocating rod 43, and the crosshead 25, by the spring 47, and so thetools are inoperative, and remain up in their upper position above theanvil6, on which the stamping 1 rests, and is operated upon.

lVhen, however, the wheel 50 is started again, and the cam 56 leaves thelever 57, the spring 58 pulls it down, and so moves the lever 46 in, andthereby moves the insertion device 45 between the reciprocating rod 43,and the crosshead 25, and thereby the vibration of the tools isrecommenced,

This starting of the action of the wheel 50, and the operation of thetools and ram, allows the holding disc 9 to be pressed down on to thenewly inserted stamping i, on to the table 7, which is continuouslyrevolved; whilst, otherwise, when the wheel 50 is stationary, and thedevice 45 out of action, the disc 9 will be above its normally operativelevel, so that the locator device 11 can be moved, and thereby a newstamping placed in ,aosition.

he re-starting of the wheel 50, and gear just described is effected bythe operation of a treadle of the machine, as follows:

In connection with the ratchet wheel 50 there is a second pawl 60mounted on a hell crank lever 61., and operating; on the wheel 50; andthe outer arm of this lever 61 is adapted to be moved up by a lever 62,which is operated by the treadle of the machine through the rod 63 inthe usual way, say by pressing on the treadle; and thus it pushes thepawl 61 forward, and moves it a portion of a revolution, so that thepawl 52 is taken off th long tooth 53, and into engagement with the nexttooth; and so by the continuous vibration of this pawl 52 the wheel 50is caused to make another revolution.

lln this rising of the lever 62, an extension 64 of this lever will havepressed back and got up above the catch or nose of a detent lever 65,(see Figure which is always pressed towards the extension 64 by a spring66, and so the lever 62 will be held in this position, and cannot bemoved or operated until it is liberated again from the detent lever 65;and this liberation is effected by a bowl or roller 67 on the wheel 50,which after this wheel has moved a certain part of its rotation orstroke round, strikes the upper nose of the detent lever 65, and s0knocks the lower catch nose away from the extension 64, and allows thelever 62 and treadle to drop, after which the remainder of the cycle ofrevolution takes place.

The lever 62 is on the. outside of the frame or bed 13 of the niiachine,and the spindle 68 on which it is fired has within the casing a shortarm or stop 69, which when this lever is iocired up by the detent 65,prevents the ram 20 and tool c rrier 19 from risingabove a small degree,say l/16th above the stamping i, this being efiected by a collar- 76' onthe spindle 37, which comes in contact with the stop arm 69; Whereaswhen the lever 62 is down, which it is when the insertion device 45 isremoved, the ram 20 can move up so that the tools are suliicientlyraised above the anvil 6 to permit of the. removal and insertion ofstampings. Thus, while the reciprocating rod 43 always moves its fullstroke, the ram 20 and tool holder and tools can in their active strokesonly move a portion of the stroke of their actuating device 43.

The continuous rotation of the table 7 effectr from the shaft 39 throughan ea centric 71 thereon, which ope-rates through an eccentric rod 72, abell crank lever 73, having on, its lower end a pawl 74 which operates atooth or ratchet wheel 75, which ias a number of teeth in it tocorrespond with the number of indentations of scorings 3 to be effectedin the stamping.

T he spindle 8 of the table 7 is carried in a bracket bearing 76 whichextends through an aperture in the frame 13, and is adjust able therein.

When the treadle moves, and the stop arm 69 rises, an arm 77 on the rod37, riseswith same, and strikes the rod 12 on which the locator 11 ismounted, so that the'stamping placed in one of the recesses or socketsof the locator, is moved clear of the rubber 34, and so is out of actionof the table; and

when the clamping of the article between the disc 9 and rubber 34 oftable 7 takes place, the locator falls a little, permitting the stampingto rest on the rubber, but the locator does not fall low enough to quitelose hold of the stamping.

What is claimed is 1. A machine for providing a tearable endless band inmetal plates adapted to form an end of a canister for packing orcontaining goods, tools adapted to score or indent the plate, avibratory tool actuating means, a slide adapted when in position between the tools and their actuating means to permit said actuating meansto operate the tools, means for positively actuating the slide in onedirection, and spring means for operating the. slide in the oppositedirection.

2. A machine for providing a tearable endless band in metal platesadapted to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods,tools adapted to score or indent the plate, a vibratory tool actuatingmeans, a means adapted to be moved in be tween and Withdrawn frombetween the said tools and their said actuating means, means forrotating the plate under the tools step by step, and means adapted toremove the said insertion means from between the reciprocating actuatingpart of the machine, and the tool carrier, when the complete endlessband of indentations or scorings hasv been efiected.

3. A machine for providing atearable endless band in metal platesadapted to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods,tools adapted to score or indent the plate, a vibratory tool actuatingmeans, means adapted to be moved in between and withdrawn from betweenthe said tools and their said actuating means, means for rotating theplate under the tools step by step, and means adapted to remove the saidinsertion means from between the reciprocating actuating part of themachine, and the too-l carrier, when the. complete endless band ofindentations or scorings has been effected; a. treadle mechanism, adetentdevice adapted normally to hold the treadle mechanism; and meansin connection with the operating mechanism of the machine adapted toremove this detent on the com pletion or part completion of theindenting or scoring action of the tools, on the plate or stamping.

4. In a machine for providing a tearable band in metal plates,comprising a carrier, a plurality of tools arranged in said carrier,said tools being formed at their lower ends to engage and form difierentcharacter of indentations in the metal, and screw studs for adjustingthe vibrating tools laterally and independently in the carrier.

5. In a machine for providing a tearable endless band in metal platesadapted to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods, aram carrying upon it a tool holder, a plurality of tools 18 forindenting or scoring the plate within said carrier, and adjustable attheir upper parts at right angles to their length in the carrier, avibrating part or rod adapted to be continuously operated by themachine, a movable insertion device adapted to be moved between theoperative end of the vibrating device, and a part of or on the ram, an

anvil directly in line with the tools over- Which the plate moves, and arotary table adapted to operatestep by step and to support and carry theplate to be scored or indented; substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine for providing a tearable endless band in metal platesadapted to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods, aram 20 carrying upon it a tool holder 19, a plurality of tools! 18 forindenting or scoring the plate within said carrier, an anvil 6 directlyin line with the tools over which the plate works, and a r0- tary table'3' adapted to operate step by step and to support and carry the plate.to be scored or indented; means adapted to limit the rise of the ram andtools when operating upon the plate controlled from a. treadle ormanually operated part, detent means for holding said treadle controlledpart in the said position, and means on the machine for freeing saiddetentwhen the cycle of operations is complete.

a, 111 a machine for providing a tearable endless band in metal platesadapted 'to form an end of a canister for packing or containing goods, aram 20 carrying upon it a tool holder 19, a plurality of tools 18 forindenting or scoring the plate within said carrier, an anvil 6 directlyin line with the tools over which the plate Works, and a rotary table 7adapted to operate step by step and to support and carry the plate to bescored or indented, a ratchet wheel, a pawl driven from the mechanism ofthe machine for operating same, and construct-- ed and adapted that atthe completion of a revolution the pawl is rendered inoperative, andanother pawl operative upon the ratchet wheel, and treadle operatedmeans adapted to actuate the latter pawl, and move the ratchet wheel onso as to render the aforesaid pawl again operative.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK EDNARD ADAMS. Vfitnesses:

SHELAGH DoNALDsoN, BARBARA J Aoons.

